Fluid dispensing systems for gasoline and the like



March 5, 1963 c. E. MAYS 3,079,960

FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEMS FOR GASOLINE AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 50, 1958s Sheets-Sheet 1 &

INVENTOR.

49 W BY HQ. '23.

\ 46 45 r Char/e: 5. May:

ATTORA/ISV March 5, 1963 c. E. MAYS 3,079,960

FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEMS FOR GASOLINE AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 50, 19583 Sheets-Sheet 2 g 4 M is if 27 27 22 2/ M2 Char/e: E. May:

i V26 INVENTOR. 24 o E A ,0 Ell/ 111! 25 ATTORNEY C. E. MAYS March 5,1963 FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEMS FOR GASOLINE AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 30.1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY M2- 5 M Char/ea; E. May

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,079,960 FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEMS FORGASOLINE AND THE LHQE Charles E. Mays, La Porte, Tex. (2634 Persa,Houston, Tex.) Filed Sept. 30, 1958, Ser. No. 764,290 3 Claims. (Cl.141-232) This invention relates to fluid dispensing systems for gasolineand the like of the type in which the means which delivers the gasolineto the customer is movable in a predetermined path of movement withrelation to the source of supply thereby permitting theservicing ofautomobiles which occupy stations at predetermined points designed toreceive such automobiles thereat for parking. Thus it is possible todesign gasoline dispensing systems to serve a multiplicity ofautomobiles from a single supply source with efliciency, as the movementof the means effecting ultimate delivery can be tracked or directed inmovement by structures in predetermined spaced association with relationto the architecture of the parking stations.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide fluiddispensing systems and methods of fluid dispensing of the type in whichthe means eifecting final delivery of the gasoline to the automobile ismovable in a predetermined path of movement with relation to the sourceof gasoline supply.

It is also an object of this invention to provide fluid dispensingsystems and methods of fluid dispensing of this class in which aplurality of ultimate delivery means together with the metering meanstherefor may be moved on track means extending from a single, fixedlypositioned source of supply, the conduit means feeding the dispensedfluid being extendable from such source of supply.

It is also another object of this invention to provide fluid dispensingsystems and methods of fluid dispensing in which the means from whichthe ultimate fluid dispensing means is extendable is mounted on boommeans swingable with relation to the fixedly positioned source ofsupply.

Other and further objects will be apparent'when the specification hereinis considered in connection with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of structure entailed in one form of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view showing carriage structureentailed in another form of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of structure entailed in still another form of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the carriage shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational taken along line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the boom structuresshown in plan view in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing details ofswivel construction of the boom shown in enlarged elevational view inFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view showing details of an arrangement wherebyfluid from supply source is deliverto wound up position.

31579,!350 Patented Mar. 5, 1963 able to a hose paid out from a rotatedreel or winch; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of a form of fluid deliverymeans extension.

Referring in detail to the drawings in which like reference numerals areapplied to like elements in the various views, a source of supply 10,for a fluid, as gasoline, is shown in FIG. 1 from which tracks 11 extendfrom opposite side thereof as carried on an elongated island 12, as ofconcrete, the source of supply or gasoline dispensing guilding 10 beinglocated centrally along the island 12.

A plurality of carriages 14 are provided to ride upon the tracks 11 oneither side of the supply house 10, and the island forms bays 15therealong on either side thereof to receive automobiles 16 therein topark with axes generally at substantially forty-five degrees to thelongitudinal axis of the island 12.

Carriage details and the equipment carried thereby can best be seen inFIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the carriage frame 17 at the forward and rear endsthereof providing journals for an axle or shaft 18 having wheels 19 oneither end thereof to engage with and roll upon the track rails 11. Onone side the frame 17 provides a side bay 20 carrying a compressed airreceiver 21 having a pressure gauge 22 connected thereinto to indicatethe air pressure, and an air hose coil reel 23 about which an air hose24 is reeled, the inner end of the air hose being'in fluid communicationwith the receiver 21 as will be hereinbelow described, while the outerend of the air hose 24 has a delivery nozzle thereon to delivercompressed air to the automobile tires. On the side of the carriage 14opposite the side bay 20 the carriage provides a side bay 25 whichcarries oil cans, water cans, and miscellaneous service equipmentdesignated generally by the reference numeral 26.

The carriage 14 is shown as having mounted successively from left toright, a fluid metering device M1, a gasoline hose reel R1 connectedthereto to receive fluid therefrom into the inner end of the gasolinehose 27 reeled thereon, -a second gasoline hose reel R2 having agasoline hose 27 reeled thereon and a metering device M2 connected todeliver fluid into the inner end of the gasoline hose 27' on the reelR2.

Wherever in this invention it becomes necessary to transfer fluid,either air or gasoline, from a stationary source of supplyto a meansthat is rotated, as the inner end of a hose is rotated with the reel towhich it is connected, various conventional arrangements are possible,and one sucharrangement is shown in FIG. 9 in which the hose 28 from thefixed source is connected to a conventional swivel SW which in turn isconnected intoa hollow shaft 29 providingthe axle for a reel 30 which isrigidly connected to such shaft 29, such shaft being shown journalled inuprights 31. An axial passage 32 extends from the hollow shaft 29 to thereel periphery where it communicates with the inner end of a hose 33which terminates about such passage, the hose 33 being wrapped aroundthe drum of the reel 30' to be payed out therefrom by reel rotation. Atorsion spring 34 connected to one end to an upright 31 and at the otherend to an end of the shaft 29 is provided to insure that after the hose33 is unwound and then released it is returned Hose- 33' on reels 3%)are provided at a supply house 10, such as the supply house shown inFIG. 7, hoses 28 extending from pumps at such supply house such as thepump 35 supplied from a source as a buried reservoir T, the hose 28connecting into swivels SW as heremabove described whereby fluid can bedelivered from stationary conduits by means of such swivels into rotatedelements as the shafts 29. Referring again to FIG. 4, hose 33 from thereels 3!? hereinabove described are shown extending along the island 12to connect into the bottoms of the meters M1 and M2 by means ofconventional swiveled connections designated by the reference nu meral36. 7

Although only two metering devices with reels for the hose therefrom areshown in FIG. 4, as for. metering ethyl gasoline and regular gasoline,at single such arrangement or'other pluralities of such arrangement'maybelprovided for each carriage 14'. As regards there'els R1 and Rl shownin FIGS. '4:and' a conventional device for taking fluid fromthe 'meterthrough the rotated shafts of thereels R1. and'RZ into the innerends ofthe hose1corresp0nds' with that shown in FIG; 9, as does the device fortaking air from 'the compressed air receiver 21' into'the innerv end. ofthe air. hose- 24 on' the air hose reel- 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, amodification of tracked carriage 14'! isshownwhich. is supported from overhead tracks 11." by upright: supports 37which. at the top provide journals for the shafts 18 of-wheels 19 whichroll upon the overhead tracks 11 In such cases the hose 33'canextendover casters 38 which roll onth'e lower flange of the track 11,such casters being supported on brackets 39' which supply the" journalsfor: the caster shafts and connect to' theuprights 37. In'thisform ofthe invention the connection of the hose 33 into the meteringdevicesisfrom below andcorrespondingly as described for the form ofinvention shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 a handle40 is provided on either. end of the carriage ld whereby the carriage 14maybe pulledalong to a bay 15 at which an automobile awaits to beserviced, and although not shown, a suitable means may be provided tomanuallytraverse the carriage 14- along the overhead track-ways shown inFIG. 2.

Incases where the length which the delivery hose27 or 27' does notrequire too great extension for the service exacted of it, anarrangement as shown in 1 16.10 may be employed in which case the nozzle41 is supported bysaipantagraph 42 extendable from an upright 43 car-:ried'iljyv the carriage 14, the hose'2'7' extending through a guidebushing 44in the upright.

As an optional form of construction for both the overhead and islandsupported trackway'constructions, the I hose 27, 27 may extend from themetering devices M1,

M2, respectively, and can be of length to reach to the outermostposition an automobile may be expected to take with relation to theisland 12 and still' be served. In 'such casesthe hose is folded ordoubled up and the nozzle hung up on the carriage when not-in use.

invention is shown in which a tubular column 45 ex-' tends upwardly onopposite ends of the supply or service house 10. Each column has aswivel 46 connected there'- into which turns in axially spaced apartball bearing as semblies 47spaced'below the top of the column and inradial ball bearing assemblies 48 assembled'into' the top' oflthevcolumn. 45. A slip ring 53 is provided on thelower end of the swivel,4610. secure it against being dis' placed upwardly.

The swivel. 46 has. the. end. ofabeam 49 rigidly connected thereto, suchbeam being of substantial length to serve as a boom. Also on theopposite side of the swivel from the boom 49 a cantilever platform 50 isprovided braced from the top of the swivel 46 by a diagonally extendingbrace member 51. Also the boom 49 is likewise braced, as by a trussframe 52.. At the form 5 From-the liollowaxle the :fluid communicateswith the inner end of a hose 57'which'is reeled on the reel 39' fromwhich the-hose 57- extends througha supa port loop 58 connected upwardlytottheflower flan'ge of the boom-149, andthrough aaloop onsthe -lowerside-"of a trolley. which rides upon" the lower. flange of the Thetrolley 59 has a cahle- 6Qdead-ended thereto which extends over pulleys6I=rnounted lonthe' endi'oitlie boom 49, one above the other,.pand.fromthe: upper pulley such cable 60 extends for connection to an end o-f asp'rin gfll the other. end of such spring being connected to 'the swivel46. The spring 62 thus normal-ly'draws-the trolley 59' outwardly towardthe endof the :boom 49' to t hefu-llest extended position, whereas whenituis desired to service an automobile in a bay spaced nearer theservicei house 16 than this normal position, thelhose may be pulled uponmanually so that. the trolley59. rolls along the-boom- 49 in directionof the column. 45,1 a's-the spring :62is extended toward the outer endof the-boom.

This invention is not limited toithe method steps-dis closed nor to thestructures shownand; described, but

othenmethods and sequencesof. methodsteps; and other structural formsare included, as such may-fall within the broad spirit of theinventionandwithin'the' broad scope of interpretation claimed andmeritedfor the a-p pended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fluid dispensing system forgasolineand the like 7 comprising afixedly positioned source of fluid supply; a

fixedlypositioned pump connected't-osaid ifluid-supply to j draw fluidtherefrom, a fixedly positioned track, aarriage mounted by saidtrack'to' move therealong; a reel' means having hosemeans thereonwithone end connected't'o' said reel means, said reel means being carried bysaid carriage;

a meter, a conduit swivelly connected to said'meter to 7 dehvermeteredfluid to said reel means and -therefromfto the reel means connected endof said hosemeans and with said'hose means being retractably extendableas paid out by said reel means, a second reel means fixedadjaceritsaid-pump, a-second hose rneansiwound on said second reel meansand'connected at one end to receive fluid thereinto from said secondreel means, .a conduit hoseswivelly connected to said pump for receivingfluid from said pump and to deliver said fluid into said second reelmeans to bedelivered in turn into said reel means connectedend'l of saidsecond hose means, said system providing stations along saidtrack atwhich fluid may be delivered,I-and said;- car-riage being movable alongsaid trackwand with relation to said pump to selected positions adjacentselected stations at which fluid is to be delivered, -the other'e n'd ofsaid second hose means being connected to deliver fluid into"saidmeterand said second hose means being 'rretractably extendable'aspaid out by said second reel means whereby said first hose means maybeposition'ed withinthei] ea of-a selected station. 1

2. A'fluid dispensingsystem forgasoline andtlie'lilie,

as claimed in claim 1, in which said track is at substantially groundlevel to support said carriage thereabove.

3. A fluid dispensing system for gasoline and the like as claimed inclaim 1, in which said track is an overhead track and supports saidcarriage therebelow. 5

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,222,759 Hawkins Apr. 17, 1917 6 Holmes Apr. 12, 1927 Iauch et a1 Nov.14, 1944 Short Nov. 21, 1950 Kunz Jan. 22, 1952 Hutt Mar. 11, 1952 Iauchet a1. June 17, 1952 Trotter et a1. May 3, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS GreatBritain Oct. 22, 1901

1. A FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR GASOLINE AND THE LIKE COMPRISING AFIXEDLY POSITIONED SOURCE OF FLUID SUPPLY, A FIXEDLY POSITIONED PUMPCONNECTED TO SAID FLUID SUPPLY TO DRAW FLUID THEREFROM, A FIXEDLYPOSITIONED TRACK, A CARRIAGE MOUNTED BY SAID TRACK TO MOVE THEREALONG, AREEL MEANS HAVING HOSE MEANS THEREON WITH ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID REELMEANS, SAID REEL MEANS BEING CARRIED BY SAID CARRIAGE, A METER, ACONDUIT SWIVELLY CONNECTED TO SAID METER TO DELIVER METERED FLUID TOSAID REEL MEANS AND THEREFROM TO THE REEL MEANS CONNECTED END OF SAIDHOSE MEANS AND WITH SAID HOSE MEANS BEING RETRACTABLY EXTENDABLE AS PAIDOUT BY SAID REEL MEANS, A SECOND REEL MEANS FIXED ADJACENT SAID PUMP, ASECOND HOSE MEANS WOUND ON SAID SECOND REEL MEANS AND CONNECTED AT ONEEND TO RECEIVE FLUID THEREINTO FROM SAID SECOND REEL MEANS, A CONDUITHOSE SWIVELLY CONNECTED TO SAID PUMP FOR RECEIVING FLUID FROM SAID PUMPAND TO DELIVER SAID FLUID INTO SAID SECOND REEL MEANS TO BE DELIVERED INTURN INTO SAID REEL MEANS CONNECTED END OF SAID SECOND HOSE MEANS, SAIDSYSTEM PROVIDING STATIONS ALONG SAID TRACK AT WHICH FLUID MAY BEDELIVERED, AND SAID CARRIAGE BEING MOVABLE ALONG SAID TRACK AND WITHRELATION TO SAID PUMP TO SELECTED POSITIONS ADJACENT SELECTED STATIONSAT WHICH FLUID IS TO BE DELIVERED, THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND HOSEMEANS BEING CONNECTED TO DELIVER FLUID INTO SAID METER AND SAID SECONDHOSE MEANS BEING RETRACTABLY EXTENDABLE AS PAID OUT BY SAID SECOND REELMEANS WHEREBY SAID FIRST HOSE MEANS MAY BE POSITIONED WITHIN THE AREA OFA SELECTED STATION.